Corn popper

ABSTRACT

A popcorn popper of generally ring-like form rests upon the rim of a bowl or the like into which the popped corn is deflected. The corn to be popped is placed in an annular tray, below which is an heating means. A cover lid covers the tray so that the corn when popped strikes against the lid and is deflected into the bowl. Upon completion, the popper is lifted from the bowl into which all of the popped corn has been deposited.

United States Patent Martin [54] CORN POPPER [72] Inventor: Myron D. Martin, 6632 Maplewood Avenue, Apt. 314, Sylvania, Ohio 43560 [22] Filed: July 19, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 163,861

[52] US. Cl. ..99/238.6 [51] Int. Cl.....- ..A23l 1/18 [58] Field of Search ..99/8l 238.1, 238.5, 238.6,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Barnard ..99/238.l UX

[451 Oct. 31, 1972 3,665,839 5/1971 Gottlieb.. ..99/238.6

Primary Examiner-Walter A. Scheel Assistant ExaminerAlan l. Cantor Attorney-Malcolm W. Fraser [57] ABSTRACT A popcorn popper of generally ring-like form rests upon the rim of a bowl or the like into which the popped corn is deflected. The corn to be popped is placed in an annular tray, below which is an heating means. A cover lid covers the tray so that the corn when popped strikes against the lid and is deflected into the bowl. Upon completion; the popper is lifted from the bowl into which all of the popped corn has been deposited.

5 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure comv POPPER SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to produce a simple and efficient popcorn popper which can be supported on a bowl or similar receptacle into which the popped corn is deflected immediately after popping, thereby eliminating the necessity of popping the corn in one receptacle and then pouring it into another one.

Another object is to produce a popcorn popper having the new and improved features of construction, arrangement and operation hereinafter described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The FIGURE is a top perspective view of the popcorn popper with parts broken away to show the structural details and showing it mounted in position of use on a bowl.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a popcorn popper indicated at C on the drawing, and associated with the popper is a bowl B or other receptacle, it being understood that the bowl forms no part of the present invention, and is merely shown to illustrate the operation of the popcorn popper C.

The popper C comprises a body or ring of sheet metal or the like which is U-shaped in cross section providing a flat bottom and upright parallel side walls. For supporting the popper, the ring 10 is equipped with legs or supporting elements 11 of a heat-resistant plastic material. Several equidistantly spaced legs 11 are provided, four being a satisfactory number, and each has a flat bottom surface to rest upon the rim of a receptacle for receiving the popped corn, such as the bowl B. Integral with the legs 11 and extending outwardly from the ring 10 are handles 12 whichcan be grasped to lift the popper and place it in' the desired place.

Within the U-shaped ring 10 is a flat retainer member of sheet material equipped with a series of spaced insulator bushings 14 for accommodating an electrical heating coil 15. Suitable outlet prongs (not shown) to which the coil 15 is connected may be provided in the usual manner.

Fitting within the upper portion of the ring 10 is a tray 16 which is generally U-shaped in cross section. On the inner wall of the tray 16 is a hook-like flange 17 to hookover the inner rim of the ring 10. Formed on the opposite wall of the tray 16 is an outwardly extending ledge 18 projecting at substantially right angles to the adjacent wall and arranged to rest freely on the rim of the outer wall of the ring 10. At the outer end of the ledge 18 is an upwardly extending rim portion 19. The structure is such that the lower edge portion of a cover lid 20 can rest on the upper surface of the ledge 18 and fit within the rim 19. The cover lid 20 is somewhat dome shaped, although it may assume other shapes, and as shown, the lid slants inwardly and upwardly and terminates in a flat top. Handles 21 of heat resistant in 00' IS'sthenener ized,andwhen ecom o sor ex%)lo I es, It impinges against the un er side o the cover lid 20 and is deflected thereby into the bowl B. After the corn has been popped, the popper is removed from the rim of the receptacle B.

From the above, it will be manifest that I have produced an extremely simple and efficient popcorn popper which can be inexpensively manufactured on a large scale production basis. The entire assembly occupies a minimum of space and can be readily boxed for shipment. The several parts can, in the main, be produced from sheet metal stampings and readily assembled.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this is merely for the purpose of illustration and description, and other forms may be produced and changes made in proportions and details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A popcorn popper comprising an open center trough-like body of substantially ringshape having upstanding side walls, 4

electrical heating means in said trough-like body,

a tray of annulus form having a bottom and upstanding side walls in said trough-like body,

means on the side walls of said tray for cooperating with the side walls of said body for supporting said tray with the bottom thereof spaced from said heating means,

a removable cover lid completely covering said tray and against which the popped corn hits and is deflected to the open center, and

support means on said trough-like body to rest on the rim of a bowl or the like into which the popped corn drops.

2. A popcorn popper as claimed in claim 1, in which said tray supporting means comprises flange means on the inner wall of the tray to rest on the adjacent inner rim of said trough, and ledge means on the outer wall of the tray to rest on the outer rim of said trough.

3. A popcorn popper as claimed in claim 2, comprising an upwardly extending rim portion at the outer edge portion of said ledge means, thereby to enable said cover lid to rest on the top of said ledge means on the inner side of said upward rim portion.

4. A popcorn popper as claimed in claim 1, in which said support means comprises a plurality of relatively flat feet of heat insulating material, and outwardly extending handles on the outer portions of said feet.

5. A popcorn popper as claimed in claim 1, in which said tray fits loosely in place so that it can be removed, and said tray supporting means includes a downwardly facing hook flange on the inner wall of said tray adapted to hook over the inner rim of said trough-like body. 

1. A popcorn popper comprising an open center trough-like body of substantially ring-shape having upstanding side walls, electrical heating means in said trough-like body, a tray of annulus form having a bottom and upstanding side walls in said trough-like body, means on the side walls of said tray for cooperating with the side walls of said body for supporting said tray with the bottom thereof spaced from said heating means, a removable cover lid completely covering said tray and against which the popped corn hits and is deflected to the open center, and support means on said trough-like body to rest on the rim of a bowl or the like into which the popped corn drops.
 2. A popcorn popper as claimed in claim 1, in which said tray supporting means comprises flange means on the inner wall of the tray to rest on the adjacent inner rim of said trough, and ledge means on the outer wall of the tray to rest on the outer rim of said trough.
 3. A popcorn popper as claimed in claim 2, comprising an upwardly extending rim portion at the outer edge portion of said ledge means, thereby to enable said cover lid to rest on the top of said ledge means on the inner side of said upward rim portion.
 4. A popcorn popper as claimed in claim 1, in which said support means comprises a plurality of relatively flat feet of heat insulating material, and outwardly extending handles on the outer portions of said feet.
 5. A popcorn popper as claimed in claim 1, in which said tray fits loosely in place so that it can be removed, and said tray supporting means includes a downwardly facing hook flange on the inner wall of said tray adapted to hook over the inner rim of said trough-like body. 